Guns for the deranged

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Our Legislature has sent to the governor for his signature a bill, HB76, to excuse people from getting a permit in order to carry a concealed gun ("Senate OKs concealed-gun bill, sets showdown with Utah guv," Tribune, March 13). With all due respect, it is one of the most idiotic bills the Legislature has ever passed.

It hasn't been that many years since the Legislature turned the driver license renewal process into a time-consuming headache, supposedly because lawmakers wanted to make it more difficult for terrorists or foreigners to drive cars on Utah roads.

But if it comes to letting those same people  and homegrown nuts and would-be criminals  carry guns into schools, churches, government offices and stores, then sure, by all means, let's make it as easy for them as possible.

No sane, responsible gun owner is going to have a problem with doing some paperwork, taking a safety course and consenting to a background check in order to be allowed to carry a gun.

The Legislature should have at least been honest enough to give the bill an accurate name: The Violent Criminals and Deranged Persons Convenience and Empowerment Act.

Gordon Swenson

Salt Lake City

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